Healthy Pumpkin Protein Bars

4.29 144 Published Sep 10, 2021, Updated Aug 20, 2024 With oats and protein powder as the base, these bars are gluten-free and vegan as long as you use vegan protein powder. They’re also oil-free and low in sugar! The entire batch is sweetened with just 1/4 cup of maple syrup and some dairy-free dark chocolate chips on top because chocolate makes everything better, am I right?! These bars have the perfect amount of pumpkin pie flavor and a good protein to carb ratio — perfect for munching on before or after your workout or as a grab-and-go breakfast bar. I hope you love them as much as I do. Seriously, they are so good!

PUMPKIN PROTEIN BARS VIDEO

Here’s What You Need

rolled or quick oats – oats are naturally gluten-free but are often cross-contaminated during processing. If you need these bars to be gluten-free, make sure you look for oats that say “gluten-free” on the package! I like to use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Whole Grain Rolled Oats. vanilla protein powder – You can use your favorite protein powder, but if you want to keep these bars vegan, make sure you use vegan protein powder. My go-to brand is Nuzest (use the code eatingbirdfood for 15% off your order). If you’re not a protein powder fan, I recommend making these healthy pumpkin bars instead. baking powder + baking soda – to help these bars rise. salt – to bring all of the flavors together! pumpkin pie spice – use store-bought or make homemade pumpkin pie spice. maple syrup – for just a touch of sweetness! Feel free to sub in your favorite liquid sweetener like honey, agave or stevia. pumpkin puree – either canned pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree works. If you’re using store-bought, make sure you pick up canned pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie mix has added sugar! unsweetened dairy-free milk – I like to use unsweetened oat milk, so I can control the amount of sweetness I add to the recipe. If you don’t have oat milk, feel free to use almond milk or your favorite milk instead. chocolate chips – I like dark chocolate chips, but any type of chocolate chip works. For a low-sugar version, use Lily’s stevia-sweetened chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark chocolate). For a vegan version, use Enjoy Life’s dairy-free chocolate chips.

How to Make Pumpkin Protein Bars

Start by mixing together your dry ingredients: oats, protein powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a separate large bowl, mix together your wet ingredients: maple syrup, pumpkin puree and oat milk. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Pour the batter evenly into a prepared dish with parchment paper or oil and sprinkle a few dark chocolate chips on top. Bake in a preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely before attempting to remove from the dish. Once cooled, cut and enjoy!

Storing Pumpkin Protein Bars

After letting your bars cool completely, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. They can be stored at room temp for up to three days, but they do keep best if stored in the fridge. You can also store them in the freezer for up to three months!

More Pumpkin Recipes

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal Cups Pumpkin Brownies No Bake Pumpkin Pie Bars Pumpkin Bread Healthy Pumpkin Muffins Pumpkin Cookies Pumpkin Coffee Cake Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars